Improvement in sscirt-supporters



G ATHARINE A. anlswoux Skirt-Supporters.

N0]57445 Patented Dec. 8,1874.

Wbfness es. Ewen/far.

THE GRAPHIC CO. PROYO-LKTKJB! vl PARK PLACE/NY.

GATHRINE A. GRISWOLD, or POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK.

IMPRQVEMENT iN SKIRT-SUPPORTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 1517.445, datedDecember 8, 1874 application filed August 14, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, OATHRINE A. GRIswoLD, of Ponghkeepsie, in the countyof Dutchess and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Skirt-Supporters, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing.

One part of this invention in ladies skirt supporters consists of thecombination of two spring-bows set flaring or inclined to each other,with their ends securely fastened together, and a flexible bow-bandarranged in a plane between the two spring-bows, and fastened to theirends, and having less strength and less rearward extent of bow than thesaid spring-bows, substantially as hereinafter set forth, so that whilethe said bow-band shall easily conform to and rest against the back ofthe waist or corset of the wearer the upper one of the said spring-bowsshall extend outward or upward and rearward, so as to give the requiredform and yielding support to the usually full and gathered rear upperend portion of the skirts, and transfer the weight or pressure of thesame to the bow-band on the back of the wearer, and to the under one ofthe two spring-bows, which under bow may serve as a second and lowerspring-support for the skirts, or may rest again st the back of thewearer below the bow-band, and thereby lessen the pressure and strain onthe latter whenever the Weight and pressure of the skirts on the upperspring-bow shall be very heavy.

Another part of this invention in skirt-supporters consists of abentspring-brace, or two or more bent spring-braces, arranged and securedtransversely to two inclined spring-bows and to a flexible bow-bandarranged between and fastened to the ends of the said springbows, andhaving less rearward extent of bow than the latter, substantially as andfor the purpose hereinafter described.

In the aforesaid drawing, Figure l is a perspective view of askirt-supportcr which embodies the whole of this invention, and Fig. 2is a central vertical section thereoffrom front to rear. The sameskirt-supporter is shown secured to the back of the waist of a corset inFig. 3, and to shoulder-straps in Fig. 4. In Fig. 5 a likeskirt-supporter is represented in skeleton form. Fig. 6 is a perspectiveview of another skirt-supporter which embodies my aforesaid invention,and Fig. 7 is a central vertical section thereof. Fig. 8 is aperspective view of a skirt-supporter which embraces the first aforesaidpart of my invention; and Fig. 9 is a central transverse section of thesame.

A and B are two spring-bows, inclined to each other and fastenedtogether at or near their ends. 0 is a flexible bow-band, arrangedbetween the two spring-bows and fastened to the ends of the latter, andhaving less length and less rearward extent of bow than either of thetwo spring-bows. D D are bent springbraces, which are arranged andsecured transversely to the bow-band O and spring-bows A B. The bows AB, band C, and braces D may consist of any suitable material securedtogether by anysuitable means. I commonly prefer to form the parts A, B,and D of covered hoop-skirt wire, or whalebone, and to make the band Cof woven fabric, and to cover the springbows A B with crescent-shapedpieces E F, of woven fabric stitched along their outer edges around thebows A B, and along their inner edges to the band 0, and to secure thebent spring-braces D across and to the band 0 and bows A B by inclosingthe springs D in casings formed in the parts E, F, and G, or bystitching the edges of tapes upon the band 0 and crescents E F, asindicated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4.

In Figs. 6 and 7 the band 0 consists of the stitched-together innerparts of the skirtings E F.

When the skirt-supporter is in skeleton form, as in Fig. 5, the bows AB, band 0, and braces D may be secured together by means of any suitabledevices of the kinds used in fastening together the parts of hoopskirts.

Then the supporter is made without any spring-brace, D, as in Figs. 8and 9, the parts A, B, and 0 must be very firmly secured together attheir ends; and if such supporter is in skeleton form, I prefer to makethe bow-band O of covered skirt-wire or other elastic material like thebows'A B. I combine one, two, or more bent spring-braces, D, with thespringbows A B and bow-band O, in order to assist in keeping the parts AB O in proper position and to directly transmit to the middle part ofthe band C and bow B the pressure of the skirts on the bow A.

This skirt-supporter can be secured to the waist of the wearer by awaistband, G, and can be attached to a corset, H, as in Fig. 3, or toshoulder-straps I, as in Fig. 4, by hooks j, which engage with the underside of the band 0 through slots k or openings 1.

IVhat I claim as new and of my invention 1. In a skirt-supporter, thetwo spring-bows A and B, inclined toward each other and fastenedtogether at their ends, and the flexible bow-band O secured between andto the ends of the two spring-bows, all combined, constructed, andarranged substantially as shown and described.

2. In a skirt-supporter, the two spring-bows A B, inclined toward eachother and secured together at their ends, in combination n fith thebow-band O and the bent spring-brace or'springbraces D securedtransversely to the said bowband and spring-bows, all constructed andarranged substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 10th day ofAugust, 187 4.

OATHBINE A. GRISWOLD.

Witn esses JAMES T. GOODFELLOW, AUSTIN F. PARK.

